April 15: Big Ideas Challenge

Monday, April 15, 2019
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Ostrander Auditorium

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Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato’s College of Business and Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship will hold the final round of the 2019 Big Ideas Challenge on Monday, April 15 from 2-5 p.m. in the University’s Ostrander Auditorium, located in Centennial Student Union. The winner and awards will be announced at the conclusion of the event. The event is free and open to the public.

The Big Ideas Challenge is a venture competition that encourages and celebrates students’ innovative business ideas. The competition provides students or alumni within two years of graduating the opportunity compete for $15,000 in prizes to fund their business. The winner of the Big Ideas Challenge will be automatically entered as a semifinalist in the Minnesota Cup.

Seven student-entrepreneur groups have been selected as finalists after two rounds of competition. The finalists will present their projects to a panel of local judges during Monday’s event. Each presentation is 6 minutes long, and will be followed by a Q&A from event judges.

Information on the finalists and their ideas are available on the Big Ideas Challenge Facebook event page.

The judges will announce the winning teams and recipients of a total of $15,000 in prizes. Attendees will get to use their phones to vote for their favorite idea. The winner of the audience vote will receive an extra $2,000 “people’s choice award.”

The awards are possible through support and donations by Minnesota State Mankato alumnus Craig Lloyd of Lloyd Companies, American Foods, Bank Vista, Cranky Ape and Jones Metal.

Those with questions may contact Yvonne Cariveau from the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship by email at yvonne.cariveau@mnsu.edu or by phone at 507-389-1018.

Minnesota State Mankato’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship is part of the University’s College of Business, but it serves the entire University as well as alumni and private and public businesses and organizations. The Center’s mission is to facilitate the launch of the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and dynamic organizations through education, research and outreach.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,227 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.